Market Trends

🏨 Radisson Hotel Group grew globally in H1 2024 with over 130 new signings and openings in EMEA and APAC. Radisson RED entered Ireland, New Zealand, Thailand, Laos, and China, nearing 90 hotels worldwide. The Radisson Collection and Radisson Blu brands expanded too, with 20 new Radisson Blu hotels. Key developments include the first Radisson Collection near the Louvre in Paris, a 10th hotel in Riyadh, and the art'otel Hoxton in London. In China, Radisson added over 5,000 rooms, contributing to its 400-property portfolio. India saw about 25 hotel signings/openings, including the country's first Cricket Stadium Hotel. Radisson's EMEA portfolio includes 520 operational hotels, and in APAC, 290; overall, Radisson operates and develops over 1,380 hotels with more than 227,310 rooms in over 95 countries.

🏡 London-based design studio Tatjana von Stein created the interior for Làlia, a private members' club in Palma, Mallorca, collaborating with local practice Gras Reynès Arquitectos. The club, set in a historic townhouse, spans four levels and includes workspaces, a restaurant, bar, gym, and event spaces. The design pays homage to local Mallorcan colors and incorporates a jewel-toned palette with artisanal elements like velvet banquette seating from Textil Bujosa. Local artisans crafted bespoke elements, such as pyrolave lava stone tables and Binissalem stone sinks. The renovation repurposed original features like reclaimed tiled flooring and marble fireplaces, emphasizing local materials and sustainability.

📝 On September 2, 2024, customer service expert and author Micah Solomon featured in an episode sharing insights on creating memorable customer experiences. He discussed the three levels of customer service, the practice of idiosyncratic mystery shopping, and the importance of language and prompt greetings in handling complaints. Solomon's background includes managing a manufacturing company and co-authoring with a Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company member, drawing from his detailed-oriented childhood experiences. The principles of customer service were highlighted as broadly applicable due to their foundation in human nature understanding.

🏖 International tourist arrivals in Africa reached 96% of pre-pandemic levels between January and July 2023. North Africa led with an 8% increase over 2019. Ethiopia attained a 28% rise, Tanzania 19%, and Morocco 15% in the same period. Travel and tourism contributed over $186 billion to Africa's economy in 2019, with an additional $168 billion expected in the next decade. Room growth since 2020 hit 20%, totaling 92,134 rooms. Radisson Hotel Group targets growth in Cape Town, Victoria Falls, and Zanzibar, planning to add resorts in key safari and coastal locations.

🎭 L'Abysse Monte Carlo, a 90-square-metre restaurant located in Hôtel Hermitage, Monaco, showcases a design inspired by the Seto Inland Sea archipelago and Japanese prints. Chef Yannick Alléno and sushi expert Yasunari Okazaki offer a Franco-Japanese culinary experience. Designer Laurence Bonnel and Rowin Atelier incorporate materials such as marble, travertine, wood, ceramics, and velvet, with a color palette featuring coral, indigo, and pink. Art installations like William Coggin's Coral Wall add to the ambiance.

🏠 Autograph Collection Hotels, under Marriott Bonvoy, opened Cicada Resort Bali Ubud in Indonesia, featuring 20 suites and 10 pool villas with plans for 15 more rooms. Radisson Hotel Group signed Park Inn by Radisson Melbourne Carlton, its first Australian property, with an 89-room hotel set to open in Q4. The U.S. hotel industry saw occupancy rise to 66.1%, ADR to $154.80, and RevPAR to $102.30 YOY, with Houston leading in occupancy (+31.7%) and Chicago in ADR (+41.8%) and RevPAR (+51.1%). Choice Hotels' SOAR program secured its first contract for two Georgia hotels, aiding underrepresented entrepreneurs, after 28 new contracts in the previous year.

🏨 Accor has renewed agreements for over 40 hotels, totaling 5,500 keys in Australia, with more than $450 million invested in renovations since 2022. Celebrating a 40-year relationship, Accor and Silversea Investments signed a long-term franchise agreement to refurbish and rebrand Novotel Sydney Parramatta to Novotel Sydney Rosehill. Trilogy Hotels manages these properties, poised to benefit from Parramatta infrastructure development and the 2026 opening of Western Sydney Airport. Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort on the Sunshine Coast also extended its partnership with Accor. With a presence exceeding 30 years, Accor operates a network of 350+ hotels in Australia and has expanded operational support in key Pacific cities, boasting over 300 team members aiding 200+ managed hotels. Additionally, Accor's portfolio spans 19 brands and over 400 hotels across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and French Polynesia.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, hosts the podcast "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn". He wrote for The New York Sun from 2005-2008. Previously, Thorn spent five years in Thailand writing for Manager magazine and Asia Times. A graduate of Tufts University (1990) and Le Cordon Bleu Paris (1986), he won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. Inducted into the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014, Thorn lives in Brooklyn, NY. Contact him at [email protected] and follow on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

👨 Dusit Hotels & Resorts and Generator & Freehand Hotels enter strategic partnership to expand globally. Dusit's network in Asia, the Middle East, and Generator's presence in the U.S. and Europe to be leveraged. Dusit International's Siradej Donavanik sees non-aligned prospects for Thai company's development. Dusit's brand lineup includes Dusit Thani, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, Dusit Suites, ASAI Hotels, Devarana, and Dusit Collection. Dusit has 57 operating hotels, with 60 more coming and 244 luxury villas under Elite Havens. Dusit's dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives and renovated Dusit Thani Bangkok launching soon. Generator and Freehand's portfolio holds 21 properties, with an 18% EBITDA increase YOY, aiming for $95.8 million yearly EBITDA, up 22%.

🏨 Airbnb stock dropped 14% in one day, as the company forecasted slowing demand and reduced projected third-quarter earnings to $3.67-$3.73 billion, lower than the anticipated $3.8 billion. Some former avid users have shifted back to hotels, citing a preference for consistent standards. Airbnb hinted at increasing hotel room bookings through its platform, reflecting a strategic shift to compete with hotels. 📅 2024-08-13.